By Brian Lee TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF CHARLTON — The owner of the
Pampered Pooch grooming salon at 82 Dresser Hill Road is being summoned
to court on a charge of animal cruelty.
Brenda L. Sylvia, 35,
is to be arraigned Feb. 9 in Dudley District Court. A clerk magistrate
found probable cause to pursue the complaint by the Massachusetts
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
On Jan. 6,
while brushing and bathing an uncooperative four-pound toy poodle, Ms.
Sylvia allegedly pushed the poodle against the wall with such force the
dog defecated, a police report said.
Two workers witnessed the alleged abuse. One of them called the state to investigate. Both workers resigned, the report said.
Officer
Christine Allenberg of the MSPCA investigated after the agency received
a call from Caitlyn Swindell, who was starting her work day as a dog
bather when the alleged abuse occurred. The witness said she heard
Ms. Sylvia cursing at the dog before she pushed him. Ms. Sylvia then
took the dog, Riley, back to the bathtub to rinse him, put him on a
grooming table and slammed Riley on it, the investigator said.
The witness said Ms. Sylvia jerked on the loop securing Riley and told the dog not to bite her.
Jaime-Lyn
Howard, a groomer at the salon, also witnessed the incident. Although
the police report says Ms. Howard resigned, she was still listed on the
company's web site today.
The dog's owner called the salon soon
after she picked up Riley. She asked if anything had been done
differently during the grooming procedure because Riley was acting
irritated, the officer said.
Riley's owner came to the store about a half-hour later and began to question who had bathed Riley.
Ms. Sylvia spoke to the owner in another room. Riley's owner left.
An hour later the dog's owner called again. Ms. Sylvia was overheard telling the
owner that Riley is an old dog.
Ms. Swindell was upset and tearful when she recounted the incident to the investigator, the report said.
She asked Officer Allenberg to find Riley and make sure that he was not too badly injured.
Ms.
Swindell, who had held the job more than a year, said in her
resignation letter she could not tolerate Ms. Sylvia's treatment of
animals and felt that she had been abusive toward numerous animals
groomed there the past few months.
“The abuse involving Riley had been the final straw,” the report said.
When
Officer Allenberg went to the Pampered Pooch, Ms. Sylvia immediately
knew the nature of the investigation. She told the officer all she did
was “scruff Riley by his neck because he was trying to bite her.”
Ms.
Sylvia denied doing anything harmful or abusive. She said she has been
grooming the poodle for years and would never hurt any dog.
The
investigator went to the
dog owner's house to check on Riley, who had a large lump on his right
shoulder that had drained blood into his stomach, the report said.
The dog was careful in his movements and appeared scared, the report said.
The poodle's owner said Riley whimpered during the ride home from the salon, and her daughter noticed the lump on his shoulder.
The owner took Riley to Sturbridge Veterinary Hospital for emergency treatment.
The vet said the dog suffered a recent trauma.
After the dog returned home he was sore, wouldn't let anyone touch him, seemed stressed and would not go outside, the report said.
The Pet Care Trust is pleased to announce that they
have awarded a grant of $5,000 to Children’s Hospital Boston, in
support of the pediatric hospital’s dog visitation program. The grant
will support the research project entitled, “Parent and Child
Perspectives on Dog Visitation in a Pediatric Hospital,” providing much
needed funding for completion of the project. The project follows the
Pet Care Trust’s views on the value of companion pets, the human animal
bond, and support companion animal programs.
The dog visitation program has been operating
successfully at Children’s Hospital Boston since 2003. “It’s a really
fantastic program,” explains Laura Veit, research assistant on the
project. “It’s a small program in the hospital and it’s only one of many
offerings that the hospital provides for children and families, but we
really think that dogs have a unique way of bringing smiles into the
environment.” Veit says that the dogs brighten the days of everyone
from staff to parents to patients. “The dogs aren’t judgmental, they’re
not going to be providing any medical care, they’re not going to be
giving shots or anything like that, and they don’t care about what’s
going on with the children and what they look like or what might be
different,” Veit says of the special way that dogs bring unconditional
love to the hospital’s pediatric in-patient units.
The program usually has 10 to 12 dog and handler
teams operating on a continuous basis. Each team commits to
twice-monthly visits of sixty to ninety minutes, and teams visit
virtually all of the pediatric hospital’s units, with the exception of
the ICU. The program accepts dog that are certified by therapy dog
organizations or that hold their Canine Good Citizen designation, and
the program conducts their own specialized training and orientation.
It’s evident to those who have seen firsthand the
positive impact the dog and handler teams have on everyone they visit
that the program has been a success, but the research project will
provide valuable evidence to the hospital. Veit says that another goal
of the project is to establish best-practices for the program and for
other hospitals who may want to start a similar visitation program.
“We’re videotaping visits and are hoping to put together examples of
what happens during dog visits and maybe be able to pull some best
practices out of that,” Veit explains. The research project, now with
almost sixty patient participants, also gathers data through pre- and
post-visit questionnaires to parents and patients.
Veit says that thanks to the support received from
the Pet Care Trust, the research team can complete the videotaping
process as well as the analysis of the data collected. “We want to
improve our program and prove to the hospital that what we do really
does help,” Veit says. “But we really would like to set ourselves up as
a best practice program and help other programs that are getting
started or help them improve their program in any way and we’re hoping
that [this grant] allows us to do that.”
The Pet Care Trust is a non-profit, charitable
public foundation established in 1990. The Trust’s mission is to
promote humane and responsible care and treatment of companion animals;
to focus national attention on the important and vital role which
responsible companion pet ownership places within society; to provide
funding for pet research, special projects and education programs; to
improve animal health and welfare; to support the human animal bond and
interactions; to assist the public understanding of the role of the pet
industry.
Worcester, Massachusetts: Pet Rock Fest.,
Inc., has created a reward fund in hopes of apprehending those responsible for
a series of recent pellet-gun shootings of cats and kittens in the Canterbury
Street area of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Local animal
activist Deborah Young, who has been caring for the injured cats (who have
since died) said that there have been a number of promising leads relating to
the case, and hopes that a reward will prompt someone to come forward and
report those who are responsible for these atrocities.
Young feeds a
feral cat colony on Southgate Street, which is what led her to the discovery of
the shootings. “People around there know me,” she said, “and when they have
questions, or need advice, they ask. They know I work at a hospital and will
try to help them the best I can.”
She, along with concerned
citizens and Pet Rock Fest, hope the reward fund will inspire someone to come
forward.
“I hope someone knows something
and this may be the last push they need to come forward,” Young said. “Sadly,
people are motivated by money, but if they see this fund, they will know this
isn’t over. I’m still looking for answers. In the end, I have been inspired. I
want to push more now to help, educate and stop this kind of thing from
happening again. These kittens did not die in vain. I want to do more for
animal rights now, in their name and memory.”
Celebrating 12 years, Pet Rock Fest is the largest event of its kind in
the Northeast, an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals and
responsible pet ownership. Pet Rock Fest, held in September each year, is a
family festival that features guest speakers, vegetarian food, live music,
games, events, a raffle, vendors, and hundreds of area animal welfare
organizations. Pet Rock Fest also advocates for animals throughout the year,
establishing funds, organizing events and promoting kindness to animals.
Pet
Rockis a nonprofit 501(c)3
organization. Donations are tax deductable.
For more information, please visit www.petrockfest.com.
(Worcester MA) – The Worcester Animal Rescue
League (WARL) is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Acting
Director Allie Simone to Executive Director, and the election of three
new members to the Board of Directors: Kim E. Stone, Matt LaBarre, and
Lori Schafer.
Ms. Simone has served as Acting Director for
the past year during which she oversaw a significant restructuring phase
at WARL. Upon the anniversary of her first year in that role, the Board
of Directors voted to promote her to Executive Director. Ms. Simone has
served the nonprofit facility in numerous capacities for the past five
years, working her way through the hierarchy of the organization until
reaching this principle leadership position. She is a graduate of
Worcester State University, and currently resides in West Boylston.
“Allie has guided our organization with
persistence and passion during an uniquely challenging time,” confirmed
Warner Fletcher, President, Board of Directors of WARL. “We are pleased
with her performance, her commitment and her leadership. Taking our
nearly 100-year old institution into a new era requires a strategic
vision and steady hand, and as our Executive Director, we look forward
to Allie leading the way.”
Additionally, new members to the Board of
Directors were elected:
Kim E. Stone is a resident of Worcester and
Director of Major Giving for Worcester Academy. Previously, she was a
United Methodist pastor for churches in Chicopee and Grafton MA, and
Director of Food Services for Rosie’s Place in Boston MA. A former CPA,
Kim holds a Master of Divinity from Boston University, and a BS in
Accounting from Northeastern University.
Matt LaBarre is a resident of Worcester and as
has operated LaBarre Communications for twenty years, specializing in
fundraising projects, sales and marketing programs, promotions, public
and media relations, and strategic planning for a wide range of
healthcare agencies and charities. He has served in volunteer leadership
roles for AMC Cancer Research Center, Salvation Army ARC, and American
Cancer Society, among others.
Lori Schafer is a resident of Worcester and
owner of Lori Schafer Public Relations. She has founded or managed
Public Relations and communications programs for a variety of service
providers, specializing in arts & entertainment, healthcare, higher
ed, and banking clientele. In recent years, the nonprofit sector has
become her particular professional focus, especially the areas of early
education, animal welfare, and agricultural sustainability.
“Growing our Board at this time is exciting
for all of us at WARL,” continued Warner Fletcher. “The professional
skills and expertise our new members contribute will help us meet and
exceed our goals for the future. Their passion and potential is already
evident, and the Board is pleased to welcome them.”
Founded in 1912 by a group of women determined
to save overworked and abused farm horses, WARL continues this legacy
of love for animals. As a no-kill, private, non-profit organization that
does not receive any county, state, or federal funding, WARL relies
heavily on the generosity of donors and volunteers. The facility
annually assists over 2500 cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies in the 17
communities surrounding Worcester MA. Programs and services include
lost and found, boarding, adoptions, low-cost spay/neuter & vaccine
clinics, end-of-life/euthanasia, educational programs, foster and
volunteer opportunities. Now the largest animal shelter in Central
Massachusetts, WARL is a limited intake shelter, accepting pets only
when enough kennel space is available; it does not believe in time or
space limits for adoptable pets, and uses every resource available to
place each one. Today, WARL is led by Executive Director Allie Simone
and a staff of 18. Located at 139 Holden Street in Worcester, WARL is
open Mon-Sat from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, and Sun from 12 noon to 4PM. Visit www.worcester-arl.org,
WARL’s facebook page, or call 508.853.0030.
Join Canines for Disabled
Kids at
the Castle Restaurant, Route 9 in Leicester, Mass., for an evening of wood and
wine
pairing on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
The
Castle Restaurant will prepare one appetizer and one main course in front of
those
attending, and pair each with wine(s). Each pairing will come with an
explanation
of why the match is desired.
Everyone will be served the
wine(s) and food
that are prepared. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions about the meals so you can
take the secrets home and show off for family and friends.
Tickets are available by
contacting
Mallory Anderson or Kristin Hartness Law at 978-422-5299 or by email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
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Tickets are $50 per person.
Canines for Disabled Kids promotes independence and enhances the lives of disabled kids by providing access to specially trained assistance dogs, and educates adults and kids on the benefits of service animals.
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